Howard makes progress on property as RPD delivers new charges

With a nuisance abatement notice pending, a Ridgecrest resident is clearing some of his belongings off a lot adjacent to his property in the 1100 block of South Mayo Street in Ridgecrest Heights.William Dale Howard confirmed Monday that he was clearing off the lot.“I’m doing this voluntarily,” he sai...

With a nuisance abatement notice pending, a Ridgecrest resident is clearing some of his belongings off a lot adjacent to his property in the 1100 block of South Mayo Street in Ridgecrest Heights.

William Dale Howard confirmed Monday that he was clearing off the lot.

“I’m doing this voluntarily,” he said. “But everything is being done in compliance with the D.A.’s nuisance abatement order.”

Ridgecrest Police Capt. Paul Wheeler said Wednesday that he had delivered a new case to the district attorney’s office for processing.

“The charges are going to be less than what was initially planned,” Wheeler said. “He’s made some effort to remove some property from the adjacent lot.”

Howard said he spent three days so far removing items from the lot.

“I’m moving stuff alright,” he said.

Howard faces possible misdemeanor charges if he doesn’t abate nuisances on 12 parcels of land that allegedly violate three sections of the California Penal Code and numerous city municipal code ordinances.

The Kern County District Attorney’s office filed an official notice against Howard on Aug. 15, leaving him 60 days to clean up the properties.

This was following a decision by the D.A.’s office to drop 37 misdemeanor charges against Howard over public nuisance and trespassing violations.

After the Oct. 16 deadline had passed, the DA’s office had not filed charges, declining to comment on the political nature at the time.

Howard was a Ridgecrest city council candidate who failed to gain a seat on council with only 7.26 percent of the vote.

In addition to the abatement notice, Howard also has receivership case pending against him by the City of Ridgecrest.

In September, Ridgecrest Police Department filed a civil case against Howard and six other people under Section 17920 of California’s Health and Safety Code.

According to a RPD news release, Howard’s properties in Ridgecrest Heights are straddled with 27 sea vans and items that qualify the property as a junkyard in a otherwise nice residential neighborhood.